Improved extension-table



' shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a fragmentin section,

ing the adjacent leaves and extension-sections and the operating parts connected therewith.

arrangement, and operation of the eirtens'ion- A A, at each end.

shape, and to secure this I form the rims a a lation to the slides that connect them together.

guide a corresponding righ tangled projection or bearing,c, of the metallicslide'E. The

outcrmain, surface of the slide parallel with v UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

M. BROMLEY, OF SAME PLACE.

s IMPROVED EXTENSION-TABLE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,496, dated September 16,1862.

To all whom it may c'onlcern:

Be it knownthat I,=ELISHA METS, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State; of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovemeut in Extension Tables; and'I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification. I

Figure 1 is a planet" the under side of my improved table'par'tially extended and with a space left open for-the insertion of-one of the extension-sections oi t'he leaves; 'Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section of. the same in theplane indicated by the red line, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a cross-section of two of the extension sup porting-bars with accompanying slides detached; Fig. 4,.a modification of the parts representingthe deviceforlocking and retain-.

" Like letters designate correspondingparts in all the figures.

My invention consists in the construction,

bars and accompanying slides for sustaining the sections, and also inthe device for locking and unlocking and retaining the contiguous edges of the said leaves and sections that fit together. T

The table is supported by the ordinary legs, For general use I. prefer that when unextended it shall be of circular by steaming and then bending. The. fixed leaves 13B are secured to these rims in the fisual manner.

The extension-bars D D are arranged'to slide longitudinally side by side, as usual; but their arrangement and construction in re= and guide them are peculiar. 1n the upper and lower surfaces of each, extending longitudinally and at the proper distancefrom the contiguous sides of the bars, is'made a groove, b, Fig. 3, sunk sufiiciently deep to receive and grooves l b.

the horizontal surfaceof the extehsioirba'rs is sunk down flush,or a little more, with thewood,'so as to slide clearand free, thus leaw lngcentrally in the bars between the" grooves ively, to the opposite ends of the table-this groove and tongue, are necessary on but one side ofthe upper and lowersurface; but in the intermediate bars they are necessary on both.-

They may be formed in any desirable man'- ner, alvery conveni ent waybeiug to saw in firsthorizontal'ly the proper depth for the countersink of theslides, and then to sawdo'w'n vertically the required distanceto form the The slides are madeof only so lficient length to hold the bars together and brace them proper] y against the vertical weight on the'extem sion sections and leaves, and to form alfirm and steady bearing in the grooves where they slide, as indicated in Fig. 1. bars but one is attached to the extremit-yof each, but in the main bars they are attached, respectively, to the opposite ends and on op-- positesides. ,by means of screw v v The mannerof forming theslides may be op-.

tional; butlpreferto providea bed orgroove' I of right-angled shape, in which fits a roller,

leaving sufiicient spacefor the passage of the sheet metal between. As the latter passes th rough its edges are bentor turned upatright' I angles. .Themetallic bar thus shaped is then cut into Suit-able lengths to jformthe 'slides,

which are therebyproduced very cheap. I

. The slides, -"instead of h'eing'formed with right-angled bearings, may be madebeveii'h'g' or obtuse angled and secured to t'h'e'bars sub;

.sta-ntially as represented in Fig. 4;"bi1t'I p're-' fer the device at first named, as it is simpler and more effective.

The arrangementabove'described is designed l to take the place of the more costiygonesnow in use and to he as 'efieetive and eudur i-ng iu operation. Asthere is but littlelateratstrain. or tendency of the extension-bars -to-separate-v sidewise, the right-angled edges'of the slides;

In the. outer They are conveniently secured (a matter of will always hold' them in place, and no crosseasily in their grooves and without unnecessary friction. Where metallic slides arc'made the whole length of the bars thereisnot only a great amount of friction, but in so extended a bearing, unless the edges of the metal that are locked together to h'old'the parts in con tact are made perfectly smooth and straight, diliicnlty,) they will not slide easily and truly, but will bind. .In my device this dilliculty is obviated, as the bearing-edges of the slides are very short and cannot bind-in the grooves. There is also the great advantage of lightness and 'cheapness of the whole arrangement, and of the slides in pa-rticiilar,'

which are form'ed'with but two right-angled edges, whereas in other-arrangements several bends transversely have to be given to the metal in orderto lock their contiguous sliding edges together, thus rendering them difficult to form and fit, not only on accountof such irregular shafie but from their length, and when so formed theysoon become worn from friction, thus making the joint loose and the action irregular, whereas in my arrangement the'slides moving over the wooden bars, wearingequally on all sides,- tends to keep them always tight.- The slides by being situated on both the upper and lower surfaces of the bars insure sutficient strength against vertical strain caused by the weight on the top of the' table, andin this respect are as serviceable as any arrangement of slides .in similar situationsand much more sothan the lateral central tongue andgroove used in the most ordinary manner of coupling the extension-bars.

In addition to theseadvantages, in extending the table the slides themselves serve-as stops to arrestthe motion of the intermediate bars, as indicated at the ri ght handin Fig. 1, thus saving the. additional expense of providing stops for the, express purpose. For the pnr pose of arresting the inward motion of the intermediate bars when closing the table, pins or stops g g project laterally from the forward ends of said bars, pressions in the ends of the next set of bars'in the rear.

The proximate edges of the fixed-leaves B R are provided one with a rounded tongue, 71, Figs. 1 and 2,aud the other with a corresponding groove or rabbet, i, in which the tongue fits closely but easily,and the opposite edges of each of the extension-sections B B are res'peciively provided with the same parts, fitting withthe contiguoussection in like meniier. In that side of each of the leaves and sections provided with the groove is situated at the proper central position a flat spring, C, resting in asui-table cavity, and with its forward or elastic end bent into a hook, in, as represented most clearly in Fig. i 5. In the opposite or tongue edge of the ad l bars, acting as stops,

- square,

which strike and fit into de:.

jacent section is situated a centrahprojecting pin or dower, 'G, otsnitable lengthfforthe purpose designed, and provided'witha catch, Z, which, when the leaves 'orsections are brought together, engages with the hook of the spring, thus retaining them in place. Under the spring of the fixed leaf, at the end of the table, is situated a sliding bar, H, its outer end passing through the rimof the leaf and provided with a knob for operating by hand, and its inner end, in contact with the spring, provided with a cam-head,- m, as represented.

the hook and catch, as indicated by thered lines, Fig. 5. As one cam-slide cannot extend the whole length of the'table and act on all the springs, the intermediate sections can be uncoupled by hand, which is easily done by reaching the arm under and pressing on the spring with the finger; or, if desired, a separate slide might'be used to each section. This arrangement securely locks and retains the leaves and sections in place, so that when the table is partially or entirely extended it may be drawn endwise over the floor with safety. The astragal edges of theleaves allow them to fit evenly and closely together, which is notthe case where the same are made the edges thereby frequently striking together and becoming broken, or so swelled o'r warped that they'will not adjust, and are thus a source of much annoyance and trouble.

In this device there are no sharp angles to strike together, .but the parts fit easily and' accurately under all circumstances. In ordinary arrangements several dowels or coupling-pins are essential to retain the leaves; but in mine but one is necessary, and that serves-the double purpose of a catch at the same time, thus reducing the cost and simplicity to the lowest degree. The leaves and sections by this means are securelyheld so as to be firm against any action, while the joints between the same are at all times perfectly closed and the surface true. The action of the spring on the cam-head of the slide H is such that when the leaves have been uncoupled and the knob is released the reaction of the same throws it back, intoits proper position again.

I do not claim, broadly, the use of the slides on both the upper and lower surfaces of the extension-bars to sustain them againstvertical-weight, as I am aware that suchhave been used, extending the whole length of the bars; neither. do I claim any manner of joining'and locking the edges. of the leaves and extension-sections other than the special device above described."

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The short metallic slides E E, resting in grooves fb b on opposite sides of the extension striking one againstthe The uncoupling ot'uies'j edgsof. the leaves or sections is accomplished bymerely drawing the slide back, disengaging other in extending the table, and the device I In witnesswhereoflhavehereuntosignedmy forjoining and locking the edges of the leaves name in the presence of two subscribing witand seebionaeonsisting of the rounded tongue messes. o

and grooveh 11, catch-pin G, and spring-hook E. METS; O, the whole arranged together, and operating v -Wifine'sses:

substantially as and for the pnrposes herein JOHN L. RE QUA,

set forth.

- R. E. OseooD. 

